Freezing as a Path to Build Micro‐Nanostructured Icephobic Coatings

Abstract

Superhydrophobic photothermal materials with the micro‐nano structure are considered to be promising icephobic surfaces. Unfortunately, converting micro‐nano hierarchical structure concepts into genuine synthetic materials has proven to be exceedingly expensive and difficult, partially because their sophisticated structures need construction at several length scales. Herein, a facile strategy of employing ice crystals to construct sophisticated hierarchical micro‐nanostructured anti‐icing composites with photothermal, self‐healable, and self‐cleaning properties is presented. The composites are covered with interconnected microscale pores replicated from ice crystals, which facilitates the construction of the hydrophobic or superhydrophobic properties based on the Cassie–Baxter model, endowing the coating with self‐cleaning ability. Besides, by adding solar‐to‐heat conversation nanomaterials, the coating can implement in situ solar anti‐/deicing. The abundant micropores caused by ice templates can further improve the photothermal conversion capability through multiple reflections of light. Importantly, the coating is endowed with the self‐healing capability to repair hydrophobicity under sunlight. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the self‐cleaning and self‐healing abilities are mutually reinforcing, synergistically improving anti‐/deicing performances. Overall, the presented ice‐templated coating shows great potential and broad impacts owing to its inexpensive component materials, simplicity, eco‐friendliness, and high energy efficiency.

Facile Approach for Designing Icephobic Coatings Using Polymers/Silica Nanoparticle Composites via Self‐Formation of Superhydrophobic Surfaces

“…[6,7] Icephobicity can be achieved in several ways, such as by lowering the ice adhesion strength (IAS, 𝜏ice), minimizing the interfacial contact area between supercooled water/ice with coating, delaying the ice nucleation, reducing the rate of heat transfer at solid/liquid interface, and preventing the transition from the Cassie-Baxter (CB) state to the Wenzel state. [8][9][10][11] Such passive icephobic coatings are expected to address long-term issues with undesired ice formation by allowing ice to be removed by simple perturbations of natural forces such as gravity and wind. [12] To date, various research groups have used poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) to develop passive low ice adhesion coatings [13][14][15][16] because of its tunable mouldability, hydrophobicity, low surface energy (19-21 mN m −1 ), [17] and viscoelastic nature.…”

A Strategy of Candle Soot-Based Photothermal Icephobic Superhydrophobic Surface

“…This endows the photothermal surface with robust abilities for both anti-icing and de-icing in extreme environments [24][25][26][27]. Miao et al [28] reported a facile strategy of employing ice crystals to construct sophisticated hierarchical micro-nanostructured anti-icing composites with photothermal, self-healable, and self-cleaning properties. However, few of them succeed in solving the problems of high-cost or ultra-complex fabrications.…”

Icephobic materials and strategies: From bio‐inspirations to smart systems

“…16,17 Therefore, an effective way to hinder ice formation is to design a novel material that facilitates the anti-icing and deicing processes. [18][19][20][21] Passive anti-/deicing methods have recently gained large attention and are identified as promising approaches toward ice prevention. 22,23 Also, there are novel ideas for the design of icephobic materials that are based on natural organisms, with their unique nonwetting characteristics.…”